We arrived at the Festival entrance to find everyone still asleep, yes it was that early. We drove down to the stage area and had a recce. It was going to be a very hot day. The stage was a converted 40 foot trailer with a blister style pull out extension, so we had an ample stage of about 30 x 20 and plenty of time to get set up. All the acts had to be there and set up by ten o'clock as the event kicked off at 10.30.
Our first set was at about mid-day and the second at about 3.30.
Nicky went to get changed and soon returned. In the rush to leave the hotel to get to the site she'd picked up the wrong stage gear and what she thought was a dress was in fact a top. Luckily there were plenty of trade stands selling clothing and she picked out a lovely red fringed dress that fitted her like a glove. Just as well, because we cut it fine getting onto the stage.
Nicki and the band soon got the crowd going and we finished to set to rapturous applause. We continued to chill out backstage until it was time to play again, at a time that coincided with the World Cup game against Germany, so the performance was interspersed with news of the scores as they came in.
The crowd soon forgot England's woes as they were won over by Nicki. Many of the audience and organisers will be at the Welshpool festival in a couple of weeks time and we look forward to seeing them there.
We quickly dismantled the kit and cleared the stage so that the final band could play, then loaded the van ready for a leisurely drive home via Worcester, Pershore and Evesham, then the A46 and A/M45, M1 and home.
Chris hadn't had much sleep so I took over and drove part of the way home. I'm feeling fitter and stronger and my sore throat has now cleared up. Next stop for Nicki is a BBC radio interview, next stop for me is a hospital apointment on Tuesday, and the next stop for the band is a trip to the North East on Wednesday.
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